Multicomponent reactions provide key molecules for secret communication

Andreas C. Boukis, Kevin Reiter, Maximiliane Frölich, Dennis Hofheinz and Michael A. R. Meier ()
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Andreas C. Boukis: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Kevin Reiter: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Maximiliane Frölich: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Dennis Hofheinz: Institute for Theoretical Informatics (ITI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Michael A. R. Meier: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract A convenient and inherently more secure communication channel for encoding messages via specifically designed molecular keys is introduced by combining advanced encryption standard cryptography with molecular steganography. The necessary molecular keys require large structural diversity, thus suggesting the application of multicomponent reactions. Herein, the Ugi four-component reaction of perfluorinated acids is utilized to establish an exemplary database consisting of 130 commercially available components. Considering all permutations, this combinatorial approach can unambiguously provide 500,000 molecular keys in only one synthetic procedure per key. The molecular keys are transferred nondigitally and concealed by either adsorption onto paper, coffee, tea or sugar as well as by dissolution in a perfume or in blood. Re-isolation and purification from these disguises is simplified by the perfluorinated sidechains of the molecular keys. High resolution tandem mass spectrometry can unequivocally determine the molecular structure and thus the identity of the key for a subsequent decryption of an encoded message.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03784-x

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